News Releases from Region 06

EPA Report: Diesel Engine Grants Program Nets Major Air, Public Health Benefits

DALLAS - (April 4, 2016) Grants aimed at cleaning up old diesel engines have greatly improved public health by cutting harmful pollution that causes premature deaths, asthma attacks, and missed school and workdays, according to a new report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since its start in 2008, the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program has significantly improved air quality for communities across the country by retrofitting and replacing older diesel engines.

Diesel exhaust significantly contributes to the formation of dangerous soot and smog and is likely to increase the risk of cancer. The funding from the program has helped clean up approximately 335,200 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 14,700 tons of particulate matter (PM), which are linked to a range of respiratory ailments and premature death. The program has also saved 450 million gallons of fuel and prevented 4.8 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions - equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions from more than 900,000 cars. EPA estimates that clean diesel funding generates up to $13 of public health benefit for every $1 spent on diesel projects.

"Research shows again and again that improved air quality benefits people's health, especially for children, the elderly, and those with breathing problems," said Ron Curry, administrator for EPA Region 6. "EPA has helped communities earn more of these benefits by replacing old, dirty engines with newer, cleaner technology."

Operating throughout our transportation infrastructure today, over 10 million older diesel engines-the nation's "legacy fleet," built before 2008-need to be replaced or repowered to reduce air pollutants. While some of these will be retired over time, many will remain in use, polluting America's air for the next 20 years. DERA grants and rebates are gradually replacing legacy engines with cleaner diesel engines. Priority is given to fleets in regions with disproportionate amounts of diesel pollution, such as those near ports and rail yards.

One Region 6 DERA funding recipient was the Aldine Independent School District (Aldine ISD), which used $100,000 in rebates from the 2014 School Bus Replacement Funding Opportunity to help replace five district-owned school buses. The old buses ranged from 1990-1995 and were replaced with newer, cleaner buses that reduced NOx emissions by 95 percent and CO emissions by 63 percent. "One of the goals of Aldine ISD is to provide a safe learning environment for our students, which applies to our students' safety and the safety of their environment. The EPA reimbursement gave us the opportunity to provide new buses that contribute to improving the air quality of the community where our students and family live and update five vehicles in our transportation fleet," said Dr. Archie Blanson, Aldine ISD Deputy Superintendent.

Visit /cleandiesel/clean-diesel-national-grants to view 2016 DERA Request for Proposals (RFP) as well as a list of all grant recipients.

This third report to Congress presents the final results from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and covers fiscal years 2009-2011. It also estimates the impacts from grants funded in fiscal years 2011-2013.

Additional report highlights include:

Environmental Benefits

18,900 tons of hydrocarbon prevented
4,836,100 tons of carbon dioxide prevented
450 million gallons of fuel saved

Public Health Benefits

Up to $12.6 billion in monetized health benefits
Up to 1,700 fewer premature deaths
Although not quantified in the report, NOx and PM reductions also prevent asthma attacks, sick days, and emergency room visits.

Program Accomplishments

642 grants funded
$570 million funds awarded
73,000 vehicles or engines retrofitted or replaced
81% of projects targeted to areas with air quality challenges
3:1 leveraging of funds from non-federal sources

For more information on the National Clean Diesel campaign, visit: http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.

To access the report, visit: http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-03/documents/420r16004.pdf

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